Methods:We analyzed 4432 eligible respondents aged 40–69 years from a 2015
internet survey (randomly sampled research agency panelists) with a propensity
score weighting adjustment for ‘being a respondent in an internet survey’ in
Japan. The outcome measure was the prevalence of electronic, heat-not-burn,
and combustible cigarette use. Intention to quit was also calculated.

Results:In all, 32.1% (n=80) of male patients with more than two diseases and
10.3% (n=16) of female patients were current smokers. Of the patients who had
no intention to quit smoking, 15.5% were male patients with atopic dermatitis
and 63.7% with mental disorders. Of the men, 7.7% without any diseases had
ever used e-cigarettes, while 7.7% and 6.4% of men with one disease or more
than two diseases, respectively, had ever used e-cigarettes. Of the women,
3.5% without any diseases had ever used e-cigarettes, while 2.1% and 2.9% of
women with one disease or more than two diseases, respectively, had ever used
e-cigarettes. Percentage of heat-not-burn tobacco current or ever use was low
(<0.1%) among both men and women.

Conclusions:Differences in the use of electronic and combustible cigarettes
according to the number of diseases were not obvious. However, sex differences
for smoking among chronic disease patients, especially in atopic dermatitis and
mental disorders, were found.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control, Office on Smoking and Health. The health consequences of smoking - 50 years of progress. A report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, USA: 2014.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Comprehensive survey of living condition of people on health and welfare. http://www.mhlw.go.lp/toukei/s... k-tyosa/k-tyosa10/index.html. Published, 2010. Accessed January 9, 2018.